Newcastle United are currently enjoying a successful run of form as the Premier League takes a break for international fixtures. Having won three consecutive matches, the team heads into the November international break with momentum. The latest victory came on Sunday, when Eddie Howe’s side produced a second-half comeback to defeat Nottingham Forest 3-1.
This result pushed Newcastle up to eighth in the Premier League standings, and they are now hopeful of maintaining this strong performance when domestic football resumes later this month.
As always, Howe will be hoping for a clean bill of health for all of his players over the international break, as injuries can quickly derail a team’s progress. Already, however, one player has withdrawn from international duty, and another is a doubt for the upcoming fixtures. Emil Krafth, who was called up to the Sweden national team along with Newcastle teammate Alexander Isak, has already been ruled out. Fans had noticed that Krafth was absent from the matchday squad in the win over Forest, and it has now been confirmed that he has withdrawn from the Sweden squad due to injury. The Swedish Football Association announced that both Krafth and his teammate, Eric Smith, would miss the upcoming international fixtures because of injuries.
Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon, who has been in good form for both Newcastle and England, is also a concern for Howe. Gordon was named in Lee Carsley’s 26-man squad for England’s upcoming matches, but after being substituted late in the Forest match, the winger’s involvement with the national team is now in doubt. Gordon, who had been struggling with a hip injury, was substituted in the latter stages of Sunday’s game, and Howe later confirmed that the issue was significant enough that Gordon might need to withdraw from international duty. When asked about Gordon’s fitness after the Forest match, Howe suggested that the injury might force the player to drop out of the England squad. “Because he had to come off, I would say yes,” Howe commented when asked if Gordon would stay with the squad.
Gordon’s potential withdrawal would be another blow to England’s already depleted ranks, as several players have been forced to pull out due to injury in recent weeks. Should Gordon be unavailable, it could create an opening for other players, including Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, who might be called up to the senior squad in his place. The England manager has plenty of options in attack, but with key players like Gordon struggling with injuries, it may force some reshuffling of the squad ahead of the international fixtures.
For Newcastle, these international breaks always carry some risk, as players head off to represent their countries, potentially returning with knocks or injuries that could hinder the team’s progress. However, Howe will be hoping that, despite these early concerns, the majority of his squad will return unscathed and ready to continue their strong form when the Premier League resumes.
The club’s current position in the league, sitting in eighth with 18 points from 11 matches, is a testament to the solid foundation Howe has built at Newcastle. Despite facing significant challenges and injuries over the past few months, the team has shown resilience and character, particularly in their recent string of victories. As the season progresses, Howe will continue to rely on his key players, including Gordon, Isak, and Krafth, to ensure that Newcastle remains competitive in the top half of the Premier League.
With the international break now upon us, Howe’s focus will shift to managing his players’ fitness and hoping that any injuries sustained are not long-term. His team’s success in the league so far has been built on a collective effort, and with a few more positive results when play resumes, Newcastle could continue to climb the standings and challenge for European spots come the end of the season.
